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Small Wireless Companies Serve Oregon Well
But competition from bigger businesses is ramping up
People in rural areas who want to get a high-speed Internet connection frequently find that their options remain limited. However, residents of Central Oregon aren’t faring so poorly when it comes to getting connected. That’s because four different wireless companies have cropped up in the area in recent years to meet the needs of these rural customers. The Bend Bulletin has a brief review of the history of these four companies (Webformix, Community Broadband, Yellowknife Wireless, and I Love My WiFi) along with information about how each has served a niche purpose in the area. As the demand for rural broadband grows, companies (including Qwest and Clearwire) are moving in to the area and increasing the competition.
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FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

This proves that deregulation AND captialism can work

So no government agency had to DEMAND that telcos provide broadband service at a loss. A demand existed for broadband and these 4 companies started up to meet it.

These 4 are good examples of why government should stay out of regulating broadband and taxing the taxpayers to provide it.
stevephl
join:2000-11-27
Colorado Springs, CO

stevephl

Member

Re: This proves that deregulation AND captialism can work

Agreed, no governmental intrusion as well as no taxing let the free market take its course.
PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR

1 edit

1 recommendation

PDXPLT

Member

You guys know nothing about Oregon ...

...and the title of this article is (once again) very misleading. "Rural Oregon" is hardly being served by these companies. It Should be "Small Wireless Companies Serve One Tiny Part of 'rural' Oregon Well". And that part happens to be the richest, fastest-growing city in Central Oregon, and its surrounding area. What is referred to as 'rural' here has pockets of urban-like population density in the form of retirement communities and resorts; e.g., Webformix' primary reason for existing is to serve the Crooked River Ranch resort. And two of the companies listed (Clearwire and ILoveMyWiFi) are actually Metro Bend mobile providers more than the outskirts.

The wealth of this area, coupled with the High Desert geography ideally suited for wireless (mostly flat and unobstructed, punctuated by the occasional butte for towers), make this more of a niche situation than an example of how to provide universal coverage. Most of Central Oregon (and area several times the size of new Jersey) and almost all of rural Oregon has no broadband. Maybe if the TV "white space" frequencies ever do get freed up, that may change (they work well in foliaged/hilly terrain).

Who over said telcos should be compelled to offer a service at a loss?

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

1 recommendation

wifi4milez

Member

Re: You guys know nothing about Oregon ...

said by PDXPLT:

Who over said telcos should be compelled to offer a service at a loss?
People on this website say it all the time. Look at what is happening with ATT's Uverse service. All these whacko commies are insisting (ie. some towns in Illinois) that if ATT wants to provide service to anyone, they need to provide service to the entire population. For this very reason ATT told them to take a hike and passed over those municipalities. In the end the consumers lost having the chance for another choice due to the pig headedness of some local government.

John Galt6
Forward, March
Premium Member
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp

John Galt6 to PDXPLT

Premium Member

to PDXPLT
What PDXPLT See Profile said...!

Long valleys, 10-20 miles wide with virtually no trees equals WISP paradise.

KeepOnRockin
Music Lover Forever
Premium Member
join:2002-11-08
Beaverton, OR

KeepOnRockin to PDXPLT

Premium Member

to PDXPLT
Yep, that's about the size of it.

cdigioia
Premium Member
join:2005-06-08
korea, repub

cdigioia to PDXPLT

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to PDXPLT
Agreed,

These WISPs don't provide coverage to "central oregon" per se, they provide it to the Bend metropolitan area. I relatively affluent area with many relatively wealthy retirees.

That still leaves the other 99% of Central/Eastern Oregon without broadband geographically speaking.

However to be fair, while Central/Eastern Oregon is mostly flat desert, there are some hills in the Bend area...at least to make it comparable to most of the inland US which is itself quite flat.
plattypus1
join:2005-04-08
Riverside, CA

plattypus1

Member

Wisps Work- Now what?

Many areas still don't have acceptable options for broadband. If we know that WISPs work in rural Oregon, perhaps an incentive program to start them in areas where they aren't currently in operation would be in order?

I agree, forcing telcos to provide broadband would probably be a disaster. But there's nothing wrong with the government providing incentives for business to serve the needs of it's citizens. No regulation necessary.

wruckman
Ruckman.net
join:2007-10-25
Northwood, OH

wruckman

Member

Small businesses

Small business can do the job and do it more efficiently than big business. Good job!

Nightshade
Premium Member
join:2002-05-26
Salem, OR

Nightshade

Premium Member

Re: Small businesses

Small business capitalism will always offer the biggest benefit to the capitalistic model and customers. I have always been a big believer in small business capitalism cause they seem to get the job done and really care about the customers more than the big corporations. Not to mention the customer wins more in the long run because small business capitalism is the model for PERFECT competition. Big corporations are the perfect model for well...governments in a capitalistic society.

PolarBear03
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium Member
join:2005-01-03

PolarBear03

Premium Member

Clearwire? Ha!

companies (including Qwest and Clearwire) are moving in to the area and increasing the competition.
With outrageous equipment prices, low to mid speeds, and long-term contracts, I would hardly consider Clearwire competition.

My former WISP provided free leased equipment and no contract, although the speeds were about the same as Clearwire, and prices lower.